Chemical fire-extinguisher.



PATENTBD MAY 16, 1905.

A. J. KNIGHT. CHEM-IML HRB BXTINGUISHBB.

VAPPLILJIIOH FILED F01". 25. 1904.

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Pnbenibd Zav 18. 19@

?TENT OFFICE,

infinito J.' Klwion'r, ornrmos'n 'MAssAcnUsEfm Assionon or ONE un, 'ro .nasen 1;. rooms, or Bosrozr, MAssAcz-iusm'rs.

'CHEMlCAL FlREEXTINGUlSHER.

J I l SECIECgTION iormngpart'o Letters Fatemi. No. 789,810, dated Fay 16, 1205s Applcnitan fled l'ovember 25, 1904;. Srixl Ho. 254,144.

Be it, known that l, ALFRED J. KNIGHT, a l citizen of ihc United Stat-cs, and a resident, of Melrose, county of .\liddlesex, Slt-ate of Massa'- chusetis, have invented an lm nrovcment. in Chemical Fire- Extinguishexgof which the following doscripiio'n, in connection Wil-h the accompanying drawings, is a speciiica'tion, like characters on the drawings represent-ing like parte. l

In United States, Patent No4 7511399, granted Lo me Felmiery i6, 1994. have shown a chemical {irc-extinguisher provided with means to prevent splashing or slopping of the. liquid in Lhe mui f receiver or canister upon the mout-h of the ficid-receptaclecontained therein. To that end u transverse diaphragm i5 shown in said palen-t as sccurcdto the walls of the canister below its filling-opening. the diaphragm having e. oentral circuinr owning to receive the lower art. of the aci -receptcle, which is conveniently a bottle having an annular shoulder to normally rest upon the diaphragm and cover va series of feed-apertures therein. A gravity closure or stopper is provided for the acid-bottle wit-l. means Le guide itY in its movemcnn; ln oiration the reversal of the canister causes the. bottle to move longitudinally far enough to permit. the unclo'sin of the feed-apertures in the diaphragm while the nvity-closure opens the mouth of the bott c for the dischar e. of its acid contents in order that ihc soul-ion in: the canister may be mixed therewith and generate car. ironic-umd gas in well-known nimmer. In actual ract-ioe l hzvc found that the operation @fp such extinguisher is no't, as rapid, smooth, and continuous as it should be for the highest, eiiciency, and in the course of my researches to discover the cause I have found that the act-ion apparently is as follows: 'Vh'on the extinguisher is inverted and the feed-apertures in the diaphragm are uncovered, some of the solution rushes therethrough and m'mcswith the acid and carbonioccid gas is generaed atconsiderable pressure. Thereupon the gas acts against he solution,

it, being understood that the gusis below and the body oi the solution above the dia Fhragm, the pressure of .the-ges being suf xcient. to more or less completely hold back the solution' from passin through the feed' apertures. A substa'nti equilibrium is thus ap .arently established between the liquid an 6 dgiiseous contents of the canister separat by the diaphragm, and vthe proper circulation of the contenta of the canister is xn f peded and may be stopped alzogether. Con sequentl'y the extinguishing-stream thrown from the nozzle" is apa to be irregular and not of the high degree ofeficiency desired fin such apparatus.

In accordance with my procent inventon I have so constructed and arr-a certain onions of the extinguisher of toe iypo roerred t-o that any tendency ofthe gaseous .and liquid contents' of the extinguisher tom.

establish a. condition of equilibrium is prevented, and' as a. consequence a free and rapid circulation of auch contents is maintamed throughout the operation of the extin uisher. i

he various nove-l features of my .invention will be full 1 described in the subjoined s iicatiou an -perticularly pointed our, in t. e follow' Figure 41 1s u. vertical section, broken qnt between its top und bottom7 of e fire-extinguisherembodying one form of my invention, the incid-receptacle and its closure or stopper being shown in elevation. Fia. 2 is a. transverse section on the lino 2 2, Fig. 1 lookinv down, omitting the acid-receptacle, and wit 1 the annular guard partly broken out, showing the diaphra 'i in lan view. Fig. 3 is a view s'ir'nilar'to ig; 1, ut 'showing the extinguisher inverted, as it would be when in u e The main receiver or canister `,lgadaptfecito rest, in upright position uponits baseA",

Fig l, when not in use, the lengo a, sux"- rounding the filling-opening and' thredefto receive the can C, the latter having sn outlet' c for the receiver, the perforated holder Yr, de pendi froizu the cap and hr1-ving within o oentry -opcnstop-Plate h", the garni-y 'cca above the diaphragm 'passes through the i openings (i {whirl} are R- t. lower level than ing into 'ihe holder und thtl latter' into the i neel( ri or' the :wid-reetit'at-le l) and the :inf nular s'nmiider rlf on t ie latter :not he and are all snhsianthally as in m patent referred to and ora-rate as therein set forth.

The change iu the relative position of t-he, aeidrecenta le and its closure 1 when the 1o canister is inverted for use is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Below the filling-opening l seeure to the. wallso' thecanistera thin metallicdiaphragm substantially frusto-eonieal in shape and t5 having its edge heut to form n flange t, which is soldered tothe canister, the concave side of the. diaphragm heing uppermost. (See Fig. l.) A circular openixw is made inthe diaphragxu at its center large enough to loosely zo receive the reeept-aele. l), the diaphragm be ing hem adjacent the opening to present a depending :iange Il and an annular flatseat 4, the latter having apertures .5. therein. (See Figs. l and 2.) The shouldernlx of the aeid-reteptafle normali)v rests upon the seat and closes the apertures" so that the liquid in the canister eannot he splashed or slopped up onto the neck or mouth of thcvawid-reeep-- tacle. Xear its periphery I form elongated 3c openings ti. which in this form of my invention permit the passage of the liquid through the (.iaphragzn when the extinguisher is in use. in annular splash-guard T is secured tothe canister just. ahove the diaphragm and f ovcrhanging theop'fnings (i, as elearl)v shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that there is no danger of the liquid being thrown therethrough onto the aetd-reeepta" e when the extinguisher is agitated or hurriedly moved around from 4o place to place. lf theliquid isejectcd tllr'olwh the openings. it will hit the guard 7 and he t ellected onto the to of thc diaphragm and triekle down its ine. ined portion 8 and linnlly i under the shoulder dx haek to the lower part thrown through the openings 1; from unpmg- 'ot` the canister. Small drahiage-openings E) are made in the s )lash-guard to permit the complete esl-:tpe ol all li( uid from the canister when desired: hutfsaiil drainage-openings nre. located lytween two adjacent openings 6 5'@ of the diaphragm. so thatthe function ofthe guard is not modified. When the extin guisher is: inverted foruse, as in Figli, thereceptacle i) drowsuntil its breast hears against, the end cf thel uncovering the apertures the closurer'at the saine time motin7 down to open thc ntouthof :older li,the shoulder Il* then I 1 apertures l l. and n free and rapid etreu ation the said receptac e. :1nd the acid fed'out, minglea with some of the. liquid. which pas-ses through the diaphragm to the then lowerl 6o p'art of the canister. Gas is instantly generated. :ind it in 11nd illsthe spat-e lit-loir the diaphragm, the The gas seeks an out et at. the highest point res-sure rising rapidly.

of the diaphragm, and eonsequentlv rushesl through the apertures 5, while thc liquid i my invention.

the apertures .'i to fil .he spat-e left h v the esrsping gas. This operation continues as long as there is an) liquid.remaining and gas is being generated. :1 emistant'free and rapid circulation of the gaseous and liquid 'Contents` of the canister lit-ing maintained so long as the extinguisher is in operation.- The flow of the gas und liquid in ouposite directions is indie-.loa in :s utiama und fait une arrows. respefti'vely. Si far as l am prepared to stateit. the :ietion described ia due to the fart that the lighter gas Aseeks the highest oim of the diaphragm for eseape, and this is iiiund at the npertnrts .'s. while the additional weight of the eolumn of water ahove the openings 6 is' sullieient to overt-.ome any haelt pressure of the gas at such points. The rush of the gas along the ineiined portion S of the diaphragm also appears to have some effect in inducing the tlow of the liquid throngh the openings t1. This theory of operation nppears :o me to he he most reasonable and is proli;|.ll \'enrreet; hut.' at all events in actual pmctiee :in arrangement by which the gas is eondueted through the diaphragm at a higher oint than theopenings for the passage of the liquid absolutely prevents the establishmentv of ueondition of equilibrium-betweenthe gaseous and liquid contents of the extinguisher. ln the modification shown in Fier. 4 the diaphragm i is frusto-eonieal, as hefire; but it is reversed in oszirion in the canister, so that the central v-loeated seat l0, having apertures Il. is atl a lower point than the periphery of the diaphragm when the extmgais-her is inverted. Openings lZin the diaphragm. at or near its lperi `ihery, a", nor# mally overhung and shielded hy an annular Splash-guard t3, whieh is. shown as i.. unitedon the normally upper side of the diaplnngm. When the extinguisher ts not m olpernt-lon, the guard prevents any uqunl whte i may hc ingr upon the mouth of the. af-id-reeeptat'le.

l'pou inversion of the extinguisher for use, as shown in Fig.4. ihe shoulder d of the aeidreeeptaele l) drops Away from the .feat l0, uneovering the apertures tl, and the generated gas is eonduett-d through the diaphragm at the highest point (which is in this arrangement at its periphery) h v means of the openings 12. The liquid passes down throu h the t J. I

CLA

llaving fully dvsvrihvd my invvutionavhatl turvs thvrvin, a gravit \'-vlo,\nrv for said rvl vlaim as nvn'. and dvsirv to svvurv hy l,vttvrs latvnt. is

l` portahlv lirv-vxtingnishvr voniprising a vanistvr haying an outlvt, a di.iphragm svparating thv vanistvr into two port ions and haring a vvntral opvning. an avid-rvvvptuvlv vxtvndvd partly through thi` opvning and normally supportvd hy thv diaphragm. said diaphragm having passagv-uavs for thv passagv of thv liquid and thv gasvous vontvnts ol thv vxtinguishvr, thv vgrvss-qwnings of suvh passagv-u'ays hving in dill'vrvnt horizontal planvsI \\'hvn thv vxtinguishvr is in usv.

L. portahlv lirv-vxtinguishvrvomprising a vanisvr having an ontlvt, a diaphragm hvloa it having a vvntral opvning and apvrturvs for thv passagv of thv liquid vontvnta ol' thv vanistvr \\'hvn in\'vrtvd` an avid-rvvvptavlv vxtvndvd partliv through thv opvning of and normally sup iortvd hy thv diaphragm, a morahlv vlosurv ior Vsut-h rvvvptavlv. mvans to prvvvnt splashing or slo iping of th't` liquid through thv diaphragm u'iivn thv vauistvr is upright. and mvaus` to vonduvt thv gvnvratvd gasvs through thv diaphragm at a highvr mint than thv said apvrturvs n'hvn thv vanistvr is invvrlvd, alivrvlrv l'rvv and rapid virvulation of thv gaavous and liquid vontvnts of thv vanistvr is maintainvd.

Si. .f\ portahlv tirv-vxtinguislnr vomprising a vauistvr having an outlvt, a diaphragm hvlow it having apvrturvs for thv passagv of thv liquid vontvnts of thv ranistvr whvn invvrtvd7 an avid rvvvptavlv normally supportvd h v thv diaphragm. a gravitr-vlosurv for suvh rv- 'vvptavlvv mvans to Iirvvvnt splashing of tlu` liquid through thv( iaphragm \\'hvn thv vanistvr ,is upright. and nivaus opvratirv n'hvu thv vxtiuguishvr is in usv to vonduvt gasvs gvnvratvd thvrvin through thv diaphragm atI a highvr point than thv said a ivrturvs, whvrvh v rvv vlrvulat ion ol' thv tluiil vontvnts of thv vanistvr is niaintainvd.

4. A portahlv irv-vxtinguishvr vomprising a vanistvr having an outlvt, a diaphragm hvlon` it having a vvntral opvning and an utilitilar svat, an avid-rvvvptavlv vxtvndvd partly through said opvning and having a shouldvr to rvst upon said svat. a gra\'it \'vlosurv for thv avid-rvvvptavlv, said diaphragm having passagv-nars for tl v liqltid and gasvous vontvnta` of thv v \'t iugulshvr. thv vgrvss-opvninga of suvh assagv-wirvs living in ditl'vrvnthorizontal planvs whvn thv vxtinguishvr is in nso to prvvvnt thv vstahlishmvnt of a vonditvion of vquilihrium hvtwvvn thv liquid and gasvons vontvnts. i. g

A portahlvl tirv-vxtinguishvr vomprising a vanistvr having an outlvt., a cout-avv diaphragm hvlow itl having a vvntral opvning and a surrounding, apvrturvd svat, an acidrvvcptnolv vxtvndvd partly through the opening and having anamntlar -ihouldvi' to normall rvat u )on thc svatl and close thv a irvvptavlv, nml vvnt-opvnings in thv diaphragm nvar its pvriphvry, rvrvrsal of thv vxtinguishvr for nsv vausing thv Ishoultlvr o f thv avid-rvvvptavlv to opvn thv adjuvvnt apvrturvsl for thv passagv oi thv gvnvratvd gas, thv liquid rontvnts ol thv vanistvr passing oppositvly through thv pvriphvral upttlllf in thv diaphragm, \\'livrvh l'rvv and ra iid virvulation of'thv vontvntsof thv vxtinguis ivr ia favilitatvd and maintainvd.

A port ahlv tirv-vxtiuguishvr vomprising a vanistvr having an outlvt., a vonvavv diaphragm hvlow ity having a vvntral opvning and a surrounding. apvrtnrvd svat. an avid rvvvptavlv vxtvndvd part l t hrough thv. opvning and having an annular shouldvr tio normally rvstJ upon thv svat and vlosv thv apvl'- tnrvs t hvrvin` a gravit v-vlosurv for said rvvvptavlv, \'vnt-opvnin 's in thv diaphragm nvar its wriphvry. and`an annular shivld ahovv saiti opvninga, to prvvvnt thv liquid in thv canistvr from splashing through thv opvnings and onto thv acid-rvcvptavlv.

7. A portahlv. irv-vxtinguishvr vompriaing a vanistvr having an outlvtand a tilliug-opvning at ouv vnd. a diaphragm hvlou' it haring a vvntral opvning and a. surrounding, npvrturvd tlat. svat, thv diaphragm sloping from thv vanistvr-walls` to thv svatand having vvnt.- opvnings nvar its vriphvrj', an ovvrhanging s ilash-guard for tiiv opvninga, a rap to vloso tliv lilling-o ivning, an avid-rvrvptuvlv adapt,- vd to vxtvnd part lythrongh thv vvutral opvning and having un annular shouldvr to normally rvst upon thv svaty aml closv thv apvrturvs thvrvin, a gravit \'olosurv for thv rvvvptavlv, and mvaus to limit thv disvhargv-o vuing hvtwvvn thv vlosurv and thv mouth oi tho rvvvptavlv \\'hvn thv vxtinguishvr is iuvvrtivd, thv shonldvr at. such timv opvning thv svat.- apvrturvs and pvrmittinr thv gvnvratvd gas to pass t-hvrvthrough whilv thv vvnt--opvnings` at. a lowvrlvxvl vrmit. thv liquid to pasa and thvrvhy vstahlis i irvv and rapid virvula tion ol thv tluid contvnts ofthv canister.

S. A portahlv tirv-vxtinguishvr comprising a vanistvr havingan outlvt ,an invvrt vd frustovonical diaphragm in t.hv vanistvr hvlon thv outlvt. having a. vvntral opvning and a surrounding, tlatfand apvrturvd svat, o ivninga in thv dia ihragm nvar its pvriplivry, a splash-gnam ovvrhanging said opvnings. an acid-rvcv tavle having an annular shouldvr t-o norma ly rvst upon t-ho svat. and vlosn t-hv ilo apvrturvs, a gravity-closure for said rvvvpta- (t 09A Ng for the passage of the. lqud commzs m' the canister when inverted. au acxu-rmrf-puxcle extending-partly through the (mening and normally suppurted by the diaphmgm. si movable Closure for ilu.- diaplmgm. means tfo normally prevent splashing of the liquid tlxruugh said apertures anni u 1on the rec-ef tac'le, and means uperatvive wlnen the extinguishcr is invertedV to cond uct. the glues genf Pmwl therein through the d phragm at a 1o higher point t-lmrx the. said a crtures.

Aln Usuuwny whereof I mve sgned my wm subscribing messex ALFRED J. KNIGHT.

'itnesses: A

,Tous C. EDwAnns,; MARGARET A. DUNN.

i name m this spvcicution in't-lxe presen@y of 

